Wheel



Jan. 12, 1943.. J. MERCIER 2,308,379

WHEEL Filed April 15, 1959 INVENTOR Y BY m M, M M

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFHQE WHEEL Jean Mercier, Paris, France; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Applies on April 15, 1939, Serial N0. 288,095

6 Claims.

The present invention relates'to vehicle wheels and more especially wheels for the landing gears of aircraft.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a wheel of this kind which is better adapted to meet the requirementsof practice than those used for the same purpose up to the present time.

According to the first feature of the invention, the wheel includes two distinct wheel flanges and a rim. made of two portions, each integral with one of said wheel flanges, a brake drum included in the wheel being ilxed directly and preferably in a detachable manner to both of said rim portions.

According to another feature of the invention, which is used in connection with the flrst mentioned feature so as to form a new combination, each of the wheel flanges is mounted on the wheel axle with the interposition of a bearing and, while the inner wheel flange is provided with a thrust bearing, the other wheel flange is provided with a simple bearing, adapted to transmit no amal thrust.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of some specific embodiments thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is, an elevational view of a wheel made according to the first embodiment of the invention, the top part being shown in section on the line 8-! of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view of the same wheel, shown on thedine 22 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, two wheel flanges are designated by I and 2. The wheel rim is constituted by the rim portions 3 and 4, integral respectively with these wheel flanges l and 2. These two rim portions 3 and 4 fit against each other along a plane surface. This surface may be of any other desired shape but no complicated joining means are required since experience'has shown that no appreciable flexing or bending stresses are not exerted upon parts 3 and d and that the resistance of the means for assembling said two parts together, herein pins or bolts 5, is sumcient to absorb any stress exerted on the rim without calling for any other means to that end. The flange I is intended to withstand axial stresses and has its annular cross-section reinforced by radial depressions forming inner ribs la corresponding to the ribs Great Britain April 27, 1938 9 of its rim portion 3. Said flange l is mounted on the spindle It by means of a ball bearing i'l, whereas flange 2 is mounted thereon by means of a roller bearing i8. 1

' Flange I is intended to withstand axial stresses and is accordingly mounted on the'splndle It by means of a ball bearing l'l, whereas flange 2 is mounted thereon by means of a roller bearing l8 At intervals, the rim portions 8 and 4 are reinforced as shown at 9. In these reinforced portions, part of rim portions 3, d and 9, adjacent the surface on which 3 and 4 meet, is cut away to make room for projection la rigid with brake drum 1. The rim portions and projection 1a are perforated to receive bolt 5 engaging screw threads formed in the perforation and adapted to'clamp the rim portions and the projection of the" brake drum which lies between them together. The brake drum rests on the reinforced portions of the rim and is at a certain distance from the latter throughout the non-reinforced taken up by one of the wheel flanges as, for

instance, the inner wheel flange (i. e. flange I in the illustrated examples) so that only .the latter will have to be mounted with the interposition of a thrust bearing (as, for instance, ball bearing i1), while for the other flange a simple hearing (as, for instance, roller bearing I8) will be sufllcient,

While I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and eiilcient embodiments of the present invention, it should belwell understood that 1 do not wish tb be limited thereto as there might be' changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims,

I claim:

l. A wheel for landing gear of aircraft and other vehicles, comprising a wheel flange, a rim portion integral with said flange and extending axially inwardly, a wheel member including another flange, a rim portion thereon adjacent to the axially inner end of said first rim portion, a brake-drum having projections extending between said rim portions of said wheel, and means coaxial with said rim portions and having pro jections extending between said rim portions, and flxation means for securing both said rim portions to each other and said projections said rim portions 4. A vehicle wheel and especially a wheel for an aircraft landing gear, which comprises, in combination, two wheel flanges, one on the inner side of the wheel and the other on the outer side thereof, two rim portions integral with said wheel flanges respectively and extending therefrom toward each other so as to iit against each other, a cylindrical brake drum coaxial with said rim portions and having projections extending between said rim portions, fixation means for securing both said rim portions to each other and said projections to said rim portions, a thrust bearing at the central part of said inner wheel flange, and a simple bearing, adapted to transmit no axial stress, at the central part of the other wheel flange.

5. A vehicle wheel, and especially a wheel for an aircraft landing gear, which comprises, in

asoas'zo combination two wheel flanges, one on the inner side of the wheel and the other on the outer side thereof. two rim portions integral with said wheel-flanges respectively and extending therefrom toward each other so as to flt against each other, a cylindrical brake drum coaxial with said rim portions, and having projections extending between said rim portions. flxation means for securing both said rim portions to each other and said projections to said rim portions, a thrust hearing at the central part of said inner. wheel flange, and a roller hearing at the central part oi the outer wheel flange.

6. A vehicle wheel and especially a wheel for an aircraft landing gear, which comprises, in combination, two wheel flanges, one on the inner side of the wheel and the other on the outer side thereof, two rim portions integral with said wheel flanges respectively and extending therefrom toward each other so as to flt against each other, said rim portions having corresponding inward projections on their inner faces, with a space left between the respective projections of the two rim portions, a cylindrical brake drum coaxial with said rim portions having lugs on its outer face adapted to flt in said spaces, flxation means parallel to the axis of the wheel extending between said projections of the rim portions for assembling them together, said flxation also extending through a hole provided in each of said lugs, a thrust bearing at the central part of the inner wheel flange, and a simple bearing, adapted to transmit no axial thrust, at the central part of the other wheel flange.

JEAN MERCIER. 

